Basildon-based Annika Reeder, the most successful British woman gymnast of all time, is quitting the sport competitively.

After much soul-searching the popular 21-year-old, whose career has been an inspiration to thousands of young girls taking up the sport, is retiring after 16 years.

Her time in gymnastics has seen the Loughton athlete take three Commonwealth gold medals and appear at two Olympic games, as well as representing Britain at world and European championships.

And arguably Annika's finest achievement was captaining the British women's team to the Olympic finals in Sydney this year - the first time the team had ever achieved this feat.

But now Annika has decided the time is right to retire from competitive gymnastics, a move backed by her coach at Basildon's South Essex Gym, Rod Smith.

"I didn't rush into anything hasty when I came back from Sydney but, after sitting down and thinking about it and chatting to Rod and a lot of other people, I'm now sure I've made the right decision," Annika said.

"Of course it's a wrench as my whole life has been geared to training and competing for nearly 16 years.

"But obviously there's a certain amount of relief that the pressure is now off."

So will Annika now pass on her unique skills and knowledge to other up-and-coming young hopefuls as a career?

She remains uncertain and said: "I shall do bits and bobs of coaching with Rod here at South Essex and elsewhere, but I've made no final decision on what I want to do long-term.

"Part of me at the moment says that I want to make a complete break from the sport, but all that might change over the next 12 months and I don't want to make any definite commitment one way or another yet."

Search for stars - Annika Reader coaches youngsters at South Essex Gym who are keen to follow in her successful footsteps

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

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